Agenda Item Wording:
title
Approve annual membership in the Tulare County Economic Development Corporation (TCEDC) for FY 22/23 in the amount of $50,000.
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Deadline for Action: 6/20/2022
Submitting Department: Community Development
Contact Name and Phone Number: Devon Jones, 4190
Department Recommendation:
Approve annual membership in the Tulare County Economic Development Corporation (TCEDC) for FY 22/23 in the amount of $50,000.
Background Discussion:
Staff is requesting Council approval to continue an annual membership in the Tulare County Economic Development Corporation (TCEDC) for the 2022/23 FY. Below are some TCEDC activity highlights from the prior FY but, generally speaking, staff has been working closely with existing TCEDC staff on several new leads and ongoing marketing of the city and believes existing staff to be hard working and a valuable asset to the city’s economic development efforts. Airica de Oliveira and Arisbet Torres-Villasenor have been working extremely hard to maintain service levels given the recent departure of prior CEO, Nathan Ahle. The organization is in a period of change, given this departure, but it is an opportunity for both the organization and the member jurisdictions to reassess economic development priorities. The attached work plan is from the current fiscal year and will serve as the interim, status quo work plan for the coming fiscal year while the TCEDC Board assesses input from the jurisdictions and makes decisions on personnel matters.
Additionally, regional economic development planning funding could be coming to the Tulare and Kings County region through the Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF). This funding would pay for a long-term economic development planning effort that would span the two-county region, as well as identify bridge opportunities with existing Fresno DRIVE plans to the north and be an inclusive planning exercise that would involve various stakeholder groups to best ensure equitable access to economic prosperity for the region. The TCEDC should play an integral role in this process. Furthermore, Vice Mayor Poochigian continues to serve on the Board’s Executive Committee and has effected positive change in the organization as a result. Currently, all Tulare County jurisdictions are members of the TCEDC.
Staff’s recommendation is to remain members of the TCEDC for FY 22/23 for the annual amount of $50,000 which is the status quo membership amount. Payments will be made quarterly with the intention that each quarter, staff will consult with Vice Mayor Poochigian as Council representative on the TCEDC Board to confirm continued membership and payments.
Of the 38 projects this FY, TCEDC submitted 57 sites for Visalia across 23 projects. Of the remaining 15 projects that Visalia did not participate in, 7 were ‘Assists’ which typically are direct requests for assistance from TCEDC member jurisdictions with an interested prospect or direct requests from prospects that have selected a site already. In these 7 cases, Visalia was not applicable. Of the remaining 8 projects that Visalia sites were not submitted, in all cases city staff was in contact with TCEDC staff and confirmed Visalia sites either did not meet site selection criteria, or that there was no interest in submitting sites. Typically, those projects we did not meet the criteria for were either too large and required rail, or required existing facilities that did not, or could not exist within the required timeframe for operation. Those projects where there was no interest in submitting a site typically required too much acreage for outdoor storage compared to proposed developed space (typically biomass/bioenergy related). In these cases, staff would recommend a more intensive use of the zoned industrial land, particularly given eligible sites may exist elsewhere in the county. 
Fiscal Impact:
$50,000 for FY 22/23 membership which is included in approved Economic Development budget. There is no cost increase from the prior year. Payments will be made quarterly.
Prior Council Action: 7.19.21 - Council approved annual membership, 7.20.20 - Council approved maintaining membership in the TCEDC on a quarter-by-quarter basis, 10.5.20 - Council approved maintaining membership for the remainder of the 20/21 FY.
Other: N/A
Alternatives: Per Council direction
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to approve annual membership in the Tulare County Economic Development Corporation (TCEDC) for FY 22/23 in the amount of $50,000. end
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Attachments: TCEDC 21/22 FY Project Metrics, status quo work plan for immediate future